Merritt Herald - October 7

NVIT AWARDS DOLED OUT PAGE 3

UBCM WIND-UP PAGE 5

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS

GREAT SCOT! It was a clash of cultures at the Culture Club on Granite Avenue Saturday night.

Scottish-born, Vancouverbased painter Jeff Wilson introduced his painting Western Front, which is based on a local heritage building, to the crowd of people gathered for Oktoberfest. Wilson donated two pieces of art to auction off at the event, which was a fundraiser for the Nicola Valley Community Arts Council.

The Oktoberfest continued as a celebration of all things bratwurst and beer, supported by a healthy contingent of Scottish-Canadians who call Merritt home.

Emily Wessel/Herald

New owners take a swing at Sagebrush

By Emily Wessel THE HERALD

newsroom@merrittherald.com

With a golden golf club, Newmark Group chief operating officer Nathan Schauerte took a swing on his first day as the representative of the official new owner of the Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club.

Saturday marked the official hand-off of the Quilchena-area golf course from receivership to the Langley-based development construction company.

Now closing out its sixth season, the golf course will

see action on its original vision as a golfing destination under Newmark’s charge.

The takeover of Sagebrush marks Newmark Group’s first foray into golf course ownership after about a year of negotiations with the court-appointed receiver.

“I know some people wondered if a real estate development construction company has much in the way of understanding the path to develop a golf course and see it operate well,” Schauerte said.

“Obviously, we love what we see, and we just want to

A new temporary pro shop is one of the plans Langley-based construction company Newmark Group has in mind for Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club.

Submitted

continue to evolve it.”

Schauerte said Newmark’s main goal is to move forward with development at the property, which was

stop-and-go since its opening in 2009.

Helping steer that course will be the members of Four for Fore Investments Ltd. —

Val Rundans, Calvin Payne, Roy Jeffrey and Peter Jeffrey — who will sit on the Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club’s advisory board.

Four for Fore was the original group of investors behind PGA-winner Richard Zokol’s idea of an exclusive golf club catering to the business elite.

“To us, it keeps the flow,” Schauerte said of retaining the four original investors on the board.

Schauerte also unveiled three architectural renderings of planned improvements to Sagebrush: a new

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entrance, expansion of the Badlands Patio and Grill, and a new temporary pro shop.

He said plans include creating more of a destination feel, constructing a 32,000square-foot clubhouse and hosting large-scale events such as weddings and corporate events.

The expansion of the Badlands Patio and Grill will begin mid-month as this season winds down, and is anticipated to be complete for the 2015 golf season.

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Original vision to guide development From Page 1 The new temporary pro shop will go up across the road from where the current temporary pro shop is located and will also house the real estate and development office.

Schauerte said plans for real estate development — his company’s main venture — are also in the works. “One of the things we intend to do here is develop and build, with full anticipation of bringing value to the valley and the community,� Schauerte said.

Sagebrush is also being re-branded with the change of ownership.

The course will maintain its semiprivate status, although prices for public play aren’t set yet.

Schauerte said Newmark Group intends to own Sagebrush longterm and called it part of the company’s longterm hold strategy.

The course, which opened in 2009, was designed by Albertabased golf course designer Rod Whitman.

Sagebrush has several awards to its name, including being

Newmark chief operating officer Nathan Schauerte (left) accepts the golden golf club from the members of Four for Fore Investments Ltd. symbolizing the official hand-off of ownership of Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club in Quilchena. Emily Wessel/Herald

voted best new course in Canada in 2009 in Golf Digest and SCOREGolf, as well as taking the No. 3 spot for best modern course in Canada in Golfweek in 2012.

Despite the accolades, membership sales at Sagebrush failed to take off with the corporate elite and the club sold only a few memberships.

Plans for major real estate development stalled and Sagebrush recorded losses of between $3 million and $5 million a year since 2009.

Schauerte said he couldn’t comment on the course’s debt in

light of ongoing lawsuits with Zokol.

He also did not specify the purchase price, which he called a “fair deal.�

Sagebrush a favourite for Maryland golfer When Marylandbased attorney David Harak calls Sagebrush world-class, he knows what he is talking about.

He has played over 1,040 golf courses in his life, in every state and 14 countries.

Perched above Nicola Lake in Quilchena’s ranchlands, Sagebrush Golf and Sporting

Club ranks high among Harak’s favourite courses. “It’s golf the way golf was meant to be played,� Harak said Saturday during the official announcement of Sagebrush’s new ownership.

He first played Sagebrush in the summer of 2012 on a side trip while travelling with his mother through the Canadian Rockies. “I remember when they opened this place, they had a profile in a golf magazine,� he said. “I thought, ‘I’m going to go over and play that.’�

Sitting in the clubhouse waiting for his tee time, Harak was approached by a Sagebrush representative who suggested he join the club.

Harak said he dismissed the suggestion immediately. “What are you, out of your mind? I live 5,000 miles away,� he said.

Harak set out to start playing, and after four holes, he was convinced. “After the fourth hole I drove back and I said, ‘Let’s talk,’� he said.

He said the topogra-

phy of the course lends itself to the drama of waiting to see where the ball ends up. “It’s firm, and it’s fast,� Harak said. “The reason this course is so different is because it has probably the largest set of putting surfaces in all of North America. The fun begins at this course when you hit your shot onto the green and watch where your ball ends up.�

In 2013, Harak had some business in Seattle and Portland, and made it a point to swing by the course to play five times.

Saturday’s tournament marked his fourth time playing Sagebrush this year.

Harak also uses Sagebrush as his base for his quest to play each of the top 100 Canadian courses.

So far, he’s played 41 of those 100. “‘Avid golfer’ is a bit of an understatement,� he said.

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TUESDAY, October 7, 2014 • 3

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Hard work pays off for NVIT students

By Michael Potestio THE HERALD

reporter@merrittherald.com

Neither Patricia Heisler nor Nicho Willson expected to win as many scholastic awards as they did, but on Sept. 27, their hard work paid off.

The pair of Merrittonian postsecondary students took home about $3,050 between them from the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology’s (NVIT) awards ceremony for the 2013-14 school year.

In all, NVIT handed out about $37,000 in scholarships and bursaries that weekend and a total of a little more than $49,000 between its Merritt and Burnaby campuses.

Heisler and Willson were this year’s recipients of NVIT’s Parliamentary Awards.

Heisler — who won six awards and took home a total of $1,900 — was born and raised in Merritt, and has spent most of her time in the Nicola Valley. The 32-yearold ventured away from home a few times after high school to live in Vancouver, Banff and Edmonton. She returned intermittently between living in those cities before settling into her schooling back home in Merritt after a year at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

She said living in big cities wasn’t for her, and she missed her family and friends.

“I just don’t really like big cities,” Heisler said.

Heisler upgraded her Grade 11 and 12 courses at NVIT and then decided she wanted a career that involved the environment and joined the institute’s environmental resource technology program.

She told the Herald it felt great to receive the accolades she did.

“It’s awesome that people are

Above: Nicho Willson receives the Governor General of Canada Bronze Medallion Award and a hug from NVIT dean John Chenoweth. Below: Patricia Heisler accepts the Lieutenant Governor of B.C. Silver Medallion Award from Chenoweth. Michael Potestio/Herald

giving out awards like that and actually taking the time to think about students,” Heisler said.

Heisler also received the Lieutenant Governor of B.C. Silver Medallion, which is given to the student in a two-year vocational or career program who has done exceptionally well in their studies and contributed to their school or community.

Willson took home four awards worth a total of $1,150, which she said will likely go into her savings.

“It just shows that hard work pays off,” she said.

Willson also received the Governor General of Canada Bronze Medallion, which is awarded to the student who achieves the highest overall grade point average when graduating from a diploma program. The award, first given in 1873 by the Earl of Dufferin, is considered one of the most prestigious awards a student in a Canadian educational institute can receive, a crowd of award recipients and spectators at the college heard at the awards ceremony.

Willson first attended NVIT as a single mother working three jobs, and earned her early childhood education certificate in 2009. She then began working as a youth and family support worker. Last fall, she returned to NVIT to earn her diploma in early childhood education.

This year’s NVIT awards amounted to significantly less than last year’s, which saw $45,000 awarded to Merritt students and $60,000 in total between the two campuses.

In January, Teck — the company that operates the Highland Valley Copper mine — will present two new awards to three students worth a total of $2,000.

Hotel rezoning, development permit OK’d

By Michael Potestio THE HERALD

reporter@merrittherald.com

A 28,000-square-foot hotel development could spring up soon in Merritt after city council approved a zoning amendment and development permit for the project at its regular meeting last Tuesday.

Just before the council meeting, the rezoning application was sent to a public hearing, which drew five people to council chambers. One member of the public spoke in favour of the hotel and there were two submitted letters expressing concerns.

Nooaitch Band Chief Joyce Sam wrote an email that said she felt the proposed hotel and zoning bylaw changes affect the interests of the band and the Gateway 286 project.

Sam went on to ask mayor and council to delay a decision on the proposed development

until the band could determine the impact it would have on their interests.

A letter from Gold Trail Ventures Inc. expressed concern that rezoning land that neighbours their own hotel development could threaten their project’s viability.

For the past 14 years,

Gold Trail Ventures Inc. has owned an 11.4 acre property along Airport Road adjacent to the Crawford Avenue site the hotel in question would be built on. The company’s property is already zoned C4 (highway commercial).

See ‘Phase one’ Page 4

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GOOD MORNING! Opinion --------------------- 6-7 Sports ------------------------- 9 Classified ------------------- 10

REMEMBER WHEN? From the Herald archives: October 1987 Postal strike hits Merritt The rotating strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers spread throughout the Central Interior on Tuesday, including Merritt, where union workers began manning the picket line at 6:30 a.m.

Shop steward Vivian Golish told the Herald that word of the impending strike was received late Monday night from CUPW local president Dan Cunningham.

Cunningham also advised that, in retaliation for Tuesday’s strike, union workers would be locked out today.

Canada Post disputes the claim that workers are being locked out, calling it instead “part of a strategy developed to deal with the overall situation.”

The 23,000-member union is opposed to Canada Post’s plans for franchising, arguing it will wipe out 4,200 union positions.

4 • TUESDAY, October 7, 2014

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JOB POSTING: Full-Time Aquatic Supervisor

The City of Merritt is inviting applications for the position of Aquatic Supervisor on a permanent basis at the Nicola Valley Aquatic Centre.

For complete posting, please visit City of Merritt website at www.merritt.ca Cover letters with attached resume’s and copies of qualifications should be submitted no later than 4:00pm Friday, October 17, 2014 to: DIGGING IN A local contracting company continues work excavating the site of Merritt’s sand volleyball court as the first step in the City of Merritt’s Central Park improvement project. The sand was scooped up and moved to Rotary Park where the volleyball court will be set up anew. Crews also removed the washroom trailer as they get ready to build a replacement permanent washroom and concession building. Michael Potestio/Herald

MFRD delivering safety message This year, the Merritt Fire Rescue Department and Domino’s Pizza are teaming up to deliver fire safety messages and pizza during Fire Prevention Week, which runs from Oct.

5 to11.

Here’s how it will work: When you place your order with Domino’s Pizza for delivery during Fire Prevention Week, the = crew will be delivering up to two orders

aboard the fire engine, with the Domino’s Pizza expert following behind in the delivery vehicle. When the MFRD crew arrives with the order, firefighters will check the home for working smoke

alarms. If the smoke alarm works, the order is free!

If the alarm is not functioning correctly or is missing completely, the fire department will supply you with a new alarm or batteries.

Phase one of hotel complex includes 83 rooms From Page 3 That is the zoning needed to move this hotel development forward — and six months ago, an Abbotsford-based architect company submitted development plans and a development permit application on Gold Trail Venture’s behalf. The plans include developing an 83-room hotel, shopping village, restaurant and RV park along the Airport Road property.

Their letter also asked if the city would have the new development chip in on the cost of a traffic circle and a connector

to Airport Road that Gold Trail has undertaken to design and finance as part of its development.

The bylaw was then returned from the public hearing and council approved third reading of the application to rezone the property at 3969 Crawford Ave. The bylaw will now have to receive approval from the Ministry of Transportation before council can vote to adopt it.

Later on in the meeting, the development permit for the 4.62-acre property on Crawford Avenue was unanimously approved by council subject to

approval from the Ministry of Transportation, reception of a security bond for landscaping and adoption of the city’s zoning bylaw amendment 2179.

The hotel development represents an investment worth $5 million in new construction, a City of Merritt council report stated.

Phase one of the development includes plans for an 83-room hotel, 350-seat convention centre and 120-seat restaurant. A second phase consisting of a cultural centre and retail stores is planned, but will require another rezoning application.

Next council meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014 Council agendas and minutes at www.merritt.ca

Carole Fraser, Human Resources Manager City of Merritt PO Box 189, 2185 Voght Street Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 Or by email: cfraser@merritt.ca We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Thank You!

The City of Merritt values the dedication and contributions of the many volunteers involved in making our City a better place for all.

Pursuant to the Council Committee Policy Section 1.4.4, all Council Committee appointments expire on September 30th in the year of a general local election; and as we are all aware, 2014 is the year of the next general local election.

At this time, City Council would like to extend a gracious THANK YOU to all members of the community that provided dedication, personal time and effort by being involved and participating on Council Committees.

The dedication and participation of volunteers is the strength of a community and the City appreciates the strength of our community members.

City of Merritt ★ 2185 Voght Street, Box 189 Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 ★ Phone: 250-378-4224

TUESDAY, October 7, 2014 • 5

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Mayor, councillors return from UCBM Council talks Kinder Morgan legacy wish list

By Michael Potestio THE HERALD

reporter@merrittherald.com

City of Merritt representatives left the 111th Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention with a shorter list of items they’d like to see Kinder Morgan contribute to as the energy company aims to make the community a critical hub during the expansion phase of its Trans Mountain pipeline.

Merritt Mayor Susan Roline said when they met with Kinder Morgan president Ian Anderson, the local politicians discussed several items on their Legacy wish list, which would essentially see the company invest in community projects.

Kinder Morgan, however, came back with a much shorter list. “The list was a lot longer than what has come back to us now,�

Roline said. She said council will now have to review the list again before signing off on it and submitting it back to Kinder Morgan.

Coun. Mike Goetz said their list included having Kinder Morgan commit funding to developing more walking trails, an extension of the airport runway and expanding the ice rink at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena to regulation size. “It’s like any other negotiation. You ask for X, Y and Z, they come back with A, B and C,�

Goetz said.

Having Kinder Morgan help fund upgrades to the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena — a project that would cost more than $1 million — was an item cut from the list by the company, Roline told the Herald.

Roline said that type of project didn’t fit with their mandate. Extending the airport runway was also cut, and that project still requires the city to purchase land, Roline pointed out.

However, making

‘‘

‘The intent with the upgrade is to improve [the emergency room], to make it function better.’

improvements to the road that leads to the composting site by the airport, developing walking trails and providing funding for students in trades programs related to the pipeline industry were list items the company was open to.

— MERRITT MAYOR SUSAN ROLINE

were told the Ministry of Health will see what

they can do to alleviate the amount of time Merritt is left without an ambulance to serve the community.

Roline said the meeting with Justice Minister Suzanne Anton led to the city being put in contact with a representative from the ministry who

to two near the Aspen Planers mill. “They’re not saying they wouldn’t, it’s just that they need to see what can be done, what the land owners around can do, what the expansions can be and then where we’ll meet on costs,� Goetz said.

The ministry is

will discuss the feasibility of building an addition to the RCMP detachment in the event the City of Merritt buys the local police station.

With Transportation Minister Todd Stone, city representatives lobbied for expanding Nicola Avenue where it narrows from four lanes

going to be repaving the stretch of Nicola Avenue that runs through Merritt sometime in the next year or two.

The city representatives also discussed sprucing up the aesthetics of the meridian on Nicola Avenue with the transportation ministry.

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Minister meetings Mayor and council met with three ministers at UBCM. With Health Minister Terry Lake, Merritt’s representatives discussed the need to expedite the renovations to the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre.

Roline said Lake told them he’d discuss that issue with the Interior Health Authority (IHA). “All he can do is encourage it,� Roline said.

Roline said the renovations, which have yet to begin, would essentially be a complete revamp of the emergency department.

She said right now, someone who is having an asthma attack may be treated in the same area as a victim of a car accident, which shouldn’t be the case.

She also said there isn’t much room in the emergency department, among other issues. “The intent with the upgrade is to improve it, make it function better, make sure the different types of patients are in proper areas and things like that,� Roline said.

Goetz said Lake committed to touring the Merritt hospital in order to grasp those concerns in the emergency room.

Roline said they

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6 • TUESDAY, October 7, 2014

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HERALD OPINION Busting roofs to raise up paralyzed lives

By Narayan Mitra

YOU GOTTA HAVE FAITH merrittbaptist@gmail.com

Refugees all over the world are in the headlines these days, in dire need of shelter, food and raiment.

On top of the ongoing huge demands placed upon nations and NGOs, now come the life-wrenching diseases accelerated by the Ebola virus in some parts of Africa.

The developed Western nations are finding it difficult to meet demand after demand being placed upon them. Good intentions alone are not able to carry them through.

How far can we go to help people in dire need or crisis in life?

The Gospel of Mark, in chapter two, relates an incident about four men engaged in a challenging act that rehabilitated a buddy of theirs from a life of uselessness to one of all-round productivity.

While Jesus was speaking in a crowded home one day, a listener jumped to his feet and interrupted him in the middle of the sermon.

He pointed an angry finger at a wooden stick poking through the ceiling of the home.

Other leaders, aggrieved by the interruption, rose angrily to watch the drama taking place in front of their eyes.

The sticks of the roof were breaking and an ever-widening hole appeared in the ceiling, spraying wood chips and dust over the people below as they moved for cover.

Within minutes, the onlookers watched four pairs of hands come through the opening, starting to remove roof tiles.

Soon those hands lowered into the room a stretcher bearing a man who lay motionless and hurting in more ways than one.

See ‘Love and sacrifice’ Page 8

Publisher Theresa Arnold publisher@ merrittherald.com

Hockey doesn’t deserve a black eye Emily Wessel Merritt MUSINGS Two 12-year-old boys have been charged with assault with a weapon after an on-ice brawl broke out after their minor hockey game in Winnipeg in February.

Although no one was seriously injured — one 12-year-old player had a broken wrist — the nature of the charges against two

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MERRITT HERALD 2090 G

minors are definitely serious.

After a lengthy investigation into the incident, one of the coaches was also charged with assault.

The teams were from rural Manitoba and were participating in a tournament in that province’s capital when the brawl broke out.

In July, two teenage girls, ages 13 and 14, from Winnipeg were charged after another brawl during their hockey game in Stonewall, Man. at the end of March.

One of them was alleged to have fired a puck at three refs while their backs were turned and the other one hit two refs.

Fighting also broke out

in the stands at that game.

Many people consider scrapping part of the good ol’ hockey game. While I am absolutely not a fan of violence — seeing someone get hit makes me queasy — I can understand that tempers and tensions run high during hockey games.

But it’s the trend that headline-making hockey fights aren’t between players and sometimes don’t even involve players at all that’s really worrisome.

In March, yet another brawl involving the parents of Manitoban minor hockey players broke out in West Fargo, N.D. where the teams were playing in a tournament.

The mother of a

Editor Emily Wessel newsroom@ merrittherald.com

RANITE AVE., PO BOX 9, MERRITT, B.C. PHONE (250) 378-4241

Reporter Michael Potestio reporter@ merrittherald.com

player was allegedly so upset about a call that she stormed the opposing team’s dressing room after the game to exchange harsh words with coaches.

Then, when the coach allegedly pushed her shoulder, her husband came in swinging and it was fisticuffs from there.

A year before that, a full-on brawl between parents of minor hockey players in Tweed, Ont. took place in the stands.

The blame for all these brawls can be shifted around to the players, their parents, coaches, officials and referees, but I think the fact these brawls take place at all has to do a little something with the level of violence that hockey, in

Sports writer Ian Webster sports@ merrittherald.com

general, tolerates.

On the one hand, players are implying consent to have physical contact with other players simply by the act of playing hockey.

Sure, there’s plenty of checking on the ice and there’s always accidental contact.

But does that mean they waive their rights to playing the sport as safely as they could in minor hockey games? Does that implied consent preclude ensuring these kids’ physical wellbeing?

There is a big difference between being physical and being violent, and that lies in the intention behind the action.

See ‘On-ice’ Page 7

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TUESDAY, October 7, 2014 • 7

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YOUR OPINION Laser pointer dangerous, pointless Dear Editor, I found this to be very disturbing to the safety of the public. This happened in our little town of Merritt this summer.

I was doing my normal thing that day, buying something at the Dairy Queen at the drive-through,

and when I least expected it, saw a laser flashing from inside the store. It looked to be purple or red in colour.

I don’t know if this person was trying to flash it at me or someone else because I was the only person in the drive-through at the time. I trusted the RCMP to look into this for me.

It also happened to a pilot in an aircraft a few days ago. As far as I know, it could be very harmful. This is why I’m saying, let’s catch the person or people who are trying to harm us.

I went to see if I could find the person myself — no luck. I don’t know anything more about lasers,

but I’m thinking it can harm your eyes. Do like I did and let the RCMP know right away. I do a lot of driving, and that’s why I’d let the general public know before they hurt anybody.

Gilbert Mike Quilchena

You can comment on any story you read @ merrittherald.com

?

HERALD QUESTION OF THE WEEK To vote, go online to merrittherald.com

Will you get out to cast your ballot in the November civic election?

On-ice conduct model for off-ice behaviour

PREVIOUS QUESTION Do you think the province and teachers reached a fair deal?

From Page 6 And while brawls certainly aren’t the norm, they are always a shame.

It’s the culture of hostility that seems to be changing the face of the sport, and that face surely doesn’t deserve a black eye.

Playing a team sport such as hockey give kids the opportunity not only to develop physically, but mentally and emotionally. They learn to push their limits, and — what’s even trickier — to recognize those limits that should be respected.

They learn teamwork, that they’re one cog in a machine that functions best when the end goal is unified.

They learn to communicate with and listen to others, as well as social and non-verbal cues that can help them out in all areas of life.

Truly, these people who disrupt the game in violent ways make up the small minority. Thousands of Canadians participate in minor hockey in some capacity — maybe they sell 50/50 tickets, organize bake sales and fundraisers, and go and cheer on their kids.

You can imagine their frustration with the ones that go to boo other people’s kids.

To many people, those two per cent of toointense hockey parents/coaches/players that ruin it for the other 98 per cent are always going to be there.

But to others, it’s important to remember that modelling what happens on the ice can actually influence what’s acceptable off-ice, and vice versa.

If we expect playing on a hockey team to teach a child teamwork — a skill that child can use in other areas of life — what can we expect when we model letting our tempers get the better of us?

Speak up

YES: 47% NO: 35% FOR NOW: 18% FLOATING ALONG Navy Cadets Caitlin Dewit and Cole Schultz accept a cheque for $876 from Wal-Mart assistant manager Dawn Hoisington. The local Wal-Mart store matched the cadets dollar-for-dollar on the funds they raised at a car wash and hotdog sale at the Wal-Mart parking lot on Sept. 6. The funds will be used for general startup costs, including uniforms, and for a camp the cadets will attend in early October. The navy cadets are currently recruiting boys and girls between nine and 13 after several members aged out of the club at the end of last season. The group is also looking for officers. For more information, call 250-280-6944. Emily Wessel/Herald

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LETTERS POLICY The Merritt Herald welcomes your letters, on any subject, addressed to the editor.

Letters must be signed and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes.

Letters may be edited for length, taste and clarity. Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

Email letters to: newsroom@ merrittherald. com.

you can also download the sears catalogue ipad app.

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Pick up your FREE copy at any Sears catalogue location or view it online at www.sears.ca/cataloguecentral FREE SHIPPING When you spend $99 or more, before taxes. Offer valid Aug. 23 - Dec. 19, 2014.

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8 • TUESDAY, October 7, 2014

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FAITH

Love and sacrifice two sides of same faith From Page 6 He was suffering from severe paralysis resulting from damage to the brain or spinal cord, incapable of doing anything for himself and was utterly dependent on the friends.

But his need for wholeness went beyond his physical problem.

As the Gospel account proceeds, it reveals that he was also hurting spiritually, as a sinner in need of forgiveness.

A closer look at the four men who brought their friend to Jesus reveals that they were just ordinary men who had a friend in need of help from Jesus.

How can these men inspire us in the work of bringing our friends to Jesus?

First, these friends had high-visibility faith. They really believed Jesus would do something for their invalid friend.

And Jesus rendered the help they were seeking. He began ministering to the sick man when he saw his friends’ faith.

Their faith didn’t have any halo or a large “F” written on their foreheads. It was much more down-toearth than that.

Jesus looked at the hole in the ceiling, the chunks of clay and dust covering the floor, four sweat-stained faces staring down at him, and a man in need of wholeness at his feet.

Now that’s faith.

Jesus associated faith with doing something, not just sitting still and mouthing sweet-sounding promises.

We find the same idea in James 2:26, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

Secondly, we learn from these men that their love for the sick friend cost them something.

It cost them personal time, and perhaps money to repair the damage to the roof of the homeowner.

They also ran the risk of being ridiculed for their actions.

Busting the ceil-

ing in the middle of a high-level religious discourse is not generally acceptable behaviour

either.

In spite of the costs involved, the men viewed their friend

with compassion and must have reckoned: “It’s worth it to get him to Jesus.”

Finally, notice that Continued in the Jesus rewarded their faith and love by minis- Tuesday, Oct. 14 edition tering to their friend. of the Merritt Herald.

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TUESDAY, October 7, 2014 • 9

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HERALD SPORTS McRae and Smith take provincial Little Britches titles Have a sports story tip? Tell us about it by calling 250-378-4241 or emailing newsroom@merrittherald.com

By Ian Webster THE HERALD

sports@merrittherald.com

The future of rodeo looks bright in the Nicola Valley following the winning of two provincial Little Britches titles by promising, young cowboys from the area.

Quilchena’s Wyatt Smith, 10, and 13-yearold Armoni McRae from Douglas Lake captured the junior and senior boys divisions of B.C. Little Britches Rodeo respectively. They received brand new trophy saddles for their outstanding achievements at an awards ceremony held in Barriere on September 20.

The 2014 B.C. Little Britches season ran from May to September, and consisted of eight rodeos in different communities around the province.

Merritt hosted an event on June 14 and 15.

Junior and senior competitors accumulated points at each rodeo with the year-end title going to the individual who earned the most points in total.

Over the course of the season, Smith finished first overall in

SADDLE UP Cowboys Wyatt Smith (above, left) and Armoni McRae proudly display the trophy saddles they won for being the top junior and senior provincial competitors in Little Britches rodeo for 2014. (Above, right) McRae competes in the senior boys calf-tying event. (Below, right) Smith in the junior boys steer riding. Photos submitted and by Ian Webster/Herald

both junior boys steer riding and goat-tail tying, and placed second in dummy roping and stake race for a winning total of 358 points.

Second went to Justin Weaver from Kamloops with 329 points.

In the senior boys division, McRae totalled 297 points to finish on top, followed by Savona’s Ryan-Spur Reid with 250.5 points.

McRae’s stellar season was highlighted by a

perfect 10-for-10 record in the stake race, good for 120 points — the maximum possible in a season.

McRae also finished first in senior boys calf tying, as well as third in chute dogging and fifth in breakaway roping.

Adding to McRae’s accomplishments this year, the Douglas Lake youngster also placed first in the senior co-ed steer riding with five first-place finishes and a

points total of 77. It was Reid in second again with 64.5 points.

Little Britches rodeo is a place for young cowboys and cowgirls to get a start in rodeo. It is a family-oriented sport that benefits its young participants in several ways — including the responsibility they learn through the caring for their animals, as well as the respect, camaraderie and sportsmanship they gain as competitors.

Local runners hit the high country

By Ian Webster THE HERALD

sports@merrittherald.com

Merritt über harrier Marie Josée Bedard (MJ to her friends) hit the hills recently for a pair of challenging crosscountry runs.

September 21 saw Bedard, 40, tackle the North Face Dirty Feet 21-kilometre event in Kamloops. She finished second overall in the women’s competition with a time of two hours, two minutes and 55 seconds.

“It was a beautiful day for the run,” Bedard said. “I knew there was no way I was going to catch the winner (Yvonne Timewell, 1:53:26). I just kept to

my pace and enjoyed myself.”

One week later, Bedard took part in the Interior Running Association’s 8.2-kilometre Campbell Mountain Run outside Penticton.

Bedard was the second female finisher again and 17th overall in a time of 45 minutes and 44 seconds.

“It was my first time on that course, so I wasn’t very familiar with it,” Bedard said.

“I didn’t seed myself very well on the entry and ended up getting stuck behind some slower runners on the narrow track. I tried a bit of bushwhacking to no avail. It had a tough uphill finish.”

Back on September 20, Merritt fire prevention officer Sky McKeown and two of his trainees, Delaney Minchiello and Scott Miller, tackled the 27-kilometre Frosty Mountain Trail Run in Manning Park, west of Princeton.

The ultra-endurance off-road event takes participants above 8,400 feet in altitude in the Cascade Mountains that span the Canada-U.S. border.

“It was a little lifechanging,” McKeown said a few days after surviving the experience.

“We went in unprepared for what ‘ultra’ meant. I’ve run the

half-marathon distance (21K) a few times, but never anything like this.

“The Frosty Mountain Run advertised that it had water at the 8K and 20K marks on the trail, and I sort of thought that seemed reasonable, so we didn’t carry any additional water and no food. Big mistake.

“Come 13 to 14 kilometres in, I began cramping. I just wasn’t hydrated enough for that kind of climbing.

I ended up doing a lot of walking, and a lot of talking to myself.

“Both Delaney and Scott hit walls of their own, too. At the end, all three of us said to ourselves — ‘What were we

thinking?’ It was absolutely poor planning on our part and a real eyeopener for sure.”

For the record, Minchiello finished 37th in a Frosty Mountain field of 62 finishers with a time of four hours, 41 minutes and 50 seconds.

Miller came in 48th in 5:03:18 and McKeown in 56th in 5:39:13.

Despite their struggles, McKeown and his young companions have expressed a desire to make Frosty Mountain an annual event.

“I learned a heck of a lot about how to prepare for things like that,” McKeown said.

“I’m sure that we’ll be smarter and more prepared next time.”

TRUE GRIT The T-shirt of Merritt’s MJ Bedard says it all during her participation in the Campbell Mountain 8.2-kilometre cross-country run outside Penticton on September 28. Photo courtesy of Mark Brett/Penticton Western News

10 • TUESDAY, October 7, 2014

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Tuesday issue noon the preceding Friday Thursday issue noon the preceding Tuesday

INDEX IN BRIEF

Family Announcements Community Announcements Employment Business Services Pets & Livestock Merchandise For Sale Real Estate Rentals Automotive Legals

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The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. bcclassiÀeds.com cannot be responsible for errors after the Àrst day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors after the Àrst day of publication of any advertisement.

Notice or errors on the Àrst day should immediately be called to the attention of the classiÀed department to be corrected for the following edition.

bcclassiÀeds.com reserves the right to revise, edit, classify or reject any advertisement and to retain any answers directed to the bcclassiÀed.com Box Replay Service and to repay the customer the sum paid for the advertisement and box rental.

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Advertisers are reminded that Provincial legislation forbids the publication of any advertisement which discriminates against any person because of race, religion, sex, colour, nationality, ancestry or place of origin, or age, unless the condition is justiÀed by a bonaÀde requirement for the work involved.

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MERRITT HERALD Ph: 378-4241 Fax: 378-6818 Advertising: sales@merrittherald.com Publisher: publisher@merrittherald.com Editorial: newsroom@merrittherald.com Production: production@merrittherald.com www.merrittherald.com 2090 Granite Avenue, P.O. Box 9, Merritt, B.C.

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Phone 250-378-6534 or send your resume to: TNT Janitor Service Box 2838 Merritt, BC V1K 1B8

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Troyer Ventures Ltd. is a privately owned energy services company servicing Western Canada. All job opportunities include competitive wages, comprehensive benefits package and room for advancement. We are accepting applications at multiple branches for: Professional Drivers (Class 1, 3), and Mechanics. Successful candidates will be self-motivated and eager to learn. Experience is preferred, but training is available. Valid safety tickets, clean drug test, references and a drivers abstract are required. For more information and to apply, please visit our website at: Troyer.ca

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Lost & Found

Lost & Found

MISSING CAT MISSING ON COLDWATER ROAD AREA.

Female cat she's grey and white and has a tattoo in her ear, tattoo is mem16 She is 14 years old and missed very much.

If anyone has seen her anywhere please call Sue

250-378-4647

TUESDAY, October 7, 2014 • 11

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Services

Rentals

Home Improvements

Rooms for Rent

FULL SERVICE Plumbing from Parker Dean. Fast, reliable, 24/7 service. Take $50 off your next job if you present this ad. Vancouver area. 1800-573-2928

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SPECIAL Trades are welcome.

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Misc. Wanted

Private Coin Collector Buying Collections, Accumulations, Olympic Gold & Silver Coins + Chad: 778-281-0030. Local.

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Rentals Homes for Rent Cars - Domestic

5 bdrm & den, 3 1/2 bath, c/vac, 7 appls, c/air and much more. Avail Nov. 01. $1350mth plus UTIL. N/p, n/s.

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